{"id":49179,"date":"2022-11-03T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/?p=49179"},"modified":"2023-09-27T09:57:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T13:57:41","slug":"deversements-eaux-usees-palmares-2021-amelioration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/en\/deversements-eaux-usees-palmares-2021-amelioration\/","title":{"rendered":"Wastewater Outfalls: Rivers Foundation's 2021 Scorecard Shows Improvement"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE<\/strong>
FOR BROADCAST ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 AT 7 A.M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montreal, November 3, 2022 <\/strong>\u2013 For a third year, Fondation Rivi\u00e8res makes public the list of municipalities that stand out in terms of the intensity of their wastewater spills<\/a>. Le Qu\u00e9bec a connu 36 391 d\u00e9versements d\u2019eaux us\u00e9es en 2021, contre 52\u00a0794 l\u2019ann\u00e9e pr\u00e9c\u00e9dente. La Fondation innove cette ann\u00e9e en affichant l\u2019evolution of the performances of the 700 municipalities from 2017 to 2021<\/a>, and this decrease is reflected in the intensity of spills per capita, which has been declining overall for five years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less precipitation, fewer spills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A growing number of municipalities are experiencing a decline in the intensity and number of spills. This decrease can be largely attributed to exceptional meteorological phenomena: early melting in spring 2020<\/a> had reduced the load on the sewer networks during the big spring rains and there had been little precipitation during the period of spring melt in 2021<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u00a0Il faut se r\u00e9jouir des r\u00e9sultats du palmar\u00e8s 2021, mais le portrait sera probablement moins reluisant en 2022, alors qu\u2019on a connu plusieurs \u00e9pisodes de pr\u00e9cipitations intenses au printemps et \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9\u00a0\u00bb, nuance le directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de la Fondation Rivi\u00e8res, Andr\u00e9 B\u00e9langer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, some municipalities have an advantage in the rankings since they do not have electronic recorders allowing them to count the number and duration of spills. The 2021 ranking, however, reflects the number of diversions carried out by municipalities. Diversion occurs at wastewater treatment plants when wastewater is not properly treated before being released into rivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cities more ambitious than the provincial<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Fondation Rivi\u00e8res invited the 35 most populous cities and municipalities in each administrative region and which are at the top of the ranking to react to their performance. Eight of them provided explanations, either Alma, Baie-Comeau, Blainville, Granby, L\u00e9vis, Longueuil, Montreal and Quebec<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several of them emphasized having adopted objectives aimed at a net reduction in spills, a position which contrasts with that of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP ). This did not provide Quebec with an overall objective for reducing wastewater spills, but simply asks not to increase the number beyond 2013 levels, according to its ministerial position of September 22, 2021 In this same ministerial position, he even grants municipalities a deadline until January 1, 2030 to achieve this objective. Until then, additional discharges are permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab On est dans la bonne direction, affirme Andr\u00e9 B\u00e9langer. On constate que les \u00e9lu.e.s municipaux sont sensibles aux enjeux de la qualit\u00e9 de l\u2019eau et que l’am\u00e9lioration pourrait \u00eatre acc\u00e9l\u00e9r\u00e9e si le gouvernement du Qu\u00e9bec avait des objectifs de r\u00e9duction de d\u00e9versements et d\u00e9bloquait les investissements n\u00e9cessaires pour les rencontrer. Nos \u00e9lu.e.s municipaux sont plus ambitieux que notre gouvernement provincial.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attestations d\u2019assainissement\u00a0: un outil efficace entre les mains d\u2019un minist\u00e8re en manque de ressources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, the MELCCFP hassanitation certificates<\/a>, a regulatory tool that has the power to help municipalities accelerate and prioritize the work needed to reduce spills. These certificates are the result of an evaluation of the performance of municipal works by the MELCCFP and they allow it to take action in the event of non-compliance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La municipalit\u00e9 qui dispose d\u2019une attestation d\u2019assainissement obtient plus rapidement et facilement le financement afin de corriger les ouvrages probl\u00e9matiques, incluant la mise en place d\u2019infrastructures vertes et le remplacement des r\u00e9seaux unitaires par des r\u00e9seaux s\u00e9paratifs, aupr\u00e8s du minist\u00e8re des Affaires municipales et de l\u2019Habitation (MAMH). Pour l\u2019instant, les demandes de financement par les municipalit\u00e9s d\u00e9pos\u00e9es au MAMH sont trait\u00e9es sur une base de premier arriv\u00e9, premier servi, alors qu\u2019elles devraient \u00eatre trait\u00e9es\u00a0 selon leur potentiel de r\u00e9duire l\u2019impact sur le milieu r\u00e9cepteur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, barely 160 municipalities out of 850 for which a certificate has been issued to date. It will be necessary to wait until 2026 for this work to be completed. Not only must the MELCCFP devote more resources to speeding up their issuance, but it should also make their content public. You currently have to submit an access to information request to consult them, even though they are of public interest and act as a guide for municipalities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Spill Intensity Index<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The ranking is based on the spill intensity index developed by Fondation Rivi\u00e8res. The intensity of spills per capita is an indicator that takes into account the duration of spills and the size of the overflowing structure. It makes it possible to compare the performance of municipalities with each other, regardless of their size, and to distinguish those which have improved compared to previous years from those where the situation has deteriorated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Fondation Rivi\u00e8res\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For 20 years, the Fondation Rivi\u00e8res has worked to preserve, restore and highlight the natural character of rivers. It helps ensure water quality and access to water for the Quebec population, taking into account social, environmental and economic dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To consult the 2021 rankings, the history of the last 5 years, the interactive map and the reaction of the municipalities: https:\/\/fondationrivieres.org\/carte-palmares-deversements-quebec\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-30-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source :<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophie Lachance
Communications and Mobilization Leader
Fondation Rivi\u00e8res
514-272-2666, ext. 307
communications@fondationrivieres.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo: Fondation Rivi\u00e8res<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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